Top 5 Most Popular Hamster Breeds Loved by Pet Owners

For the last several decades, hamsters have been making their way into people’s homes as pets. These small, nimble creatures are liked by everyone from children to adults because of their chubby bodies, fluffy cheeks, soft ears, and tiny tails. Hamsters are not only adept at playing, but they are also intelligent, due to which makes they very popular among families.

Hamsters exist in various species, which contain the dwarf and standard size categories. Worldwide, pet owners care for more than twenty different hamster breed,s but some of these special breeds are highly captivating. The following section provides details about specific hamster species one by one.

1. Syrian Hamster

Syrian-Hamster

The Syrian hamster is the most popular pet hamster in America. It is also known as Teddy Bear Hamster or Golden Hamster. It is identified by its golden colored fur and white or cream colored belly. Apart from this, they are also available in cinnamon color, piebald (two color spots) and cream color.

A typical Chinese hamster survives for 2 to 3 years. Both dimensions make up the standard measurements for these animals: 6-7 inches in length and 90-140 grams in weight. The big size of these hamsters makes them suitable for children and offering convenience to first-time pet owners.

A point to note – Syrian hamsters should be kept alone because they like to live alone. Keeping two hamsters in the same cage can cause them to fight.

2. Chinese Hamster

Chinese-Hamster

The Chinese hamster exhibits the same features as the Syrian hamster except for its unique black backward stripe running across its body. The hamster exhibits black-gray body hues, together with a white stomach. The body dimension of these pets stretches between 4 to 5 inches, and their body weight falls between 40 to 45 grams.
The length of their tail can be a little more than other hamsters, up to about 1 inch. By nature, they also like to live alone. However, they take some time to mingle with new people, but once they become friendly, it becomes easy to handle them.

3. Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster

Winter-White-Russian-Dwarf-Hamster

This small-sized hamster, coming from the Russian region of Siberia, is also called the Dzungarian hamster or striped dwarf hamster. Their weight is 70-90 grams, and their length is 2-4 inches.

Their lifespan is also 1-3 years. The most special thing about them is a dark black stripe from head to tail. If they are kept together from childhood, then they can also live in pairs, but keep in mind that both should be of the same gender, otherwise hamster babies can be born without planning.

However, they are a bit biting, so caution should be exercised before choosing them for children.

4. Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamster

Campbells-Russian-Dwarf-Hamster

Thehamster received its name after explorer C.W. Campbell who discovered them in Mongolia during 1902. The pet shares traits with Winter White Dwarf hamster however their backbone stripe stands out darker and shorter.

The dwarf hamster measure between 2 and 4 inches in length with a weight range of 40 to 60 grams and male individuals tend to be bulkier than females.
Their lifespan is also 2.5-3 years. They can also bite a bit initially, but when they mingle with their family, they become very loving companions.

If kept together from childhood, they can also live in pairs of the same gender.

5. Roborovski Dwarf Hamster

Roborovski-Dwarf-Hamster

The hamsters bear another name as Robo Dwarf Hamster. This breed stands as the tiniest group of hamsters found in existence. Their body length extends to 1.5-2 inches, while their body weight ranges between 20-25 grams.

With proper maintenance these hamsters should reach 4 years of age although they normally survive about 3 years. The body of the Robo Dwarf Hamster does not feature stripes and its coloration spans from light white through gray tones. Their natural habitat exists in the Central Asian desert regions where their exceptional mobility makes them worth observing.

The quick movement and diminutive dimensions of these animals make their capture hard for humans, which leads many people to observe them moving freely inside their enclosure.

Conclusion

The availability of these cute pets with playful attitudes and intelligent disposition makes hamsters outstanding pet choices.Every hamster breed displays different personality traits together with particular maintenance requirements.When getting pet hamsters decide between having one individual pet or multiple but ensure their dwelling remains secure and spotless.

FAQs

Q1. Which is the most popular pet hamster in the United States?

A1. The Syrian hamster, also known as the Teddy Bear or Golden hamster.

Q2. Can Syrian hamsters live in pairs?

A2. No, Syrian hamsters are solitary and should be kept alone.

Q3. Which hamster breed lives the longest?

A3. Roborovski dwarf hamsters can live up to 4 years with good care.

Q4. Which hamster is the smallest in size?

A4. Roborovski dwarf hamsters, measuring 1.5-2 inches.

Q5. Are Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters good for kids?

A5. Not ideal, as they can be a bit nippy and may bite initially.

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